Understanding Acne Scarring

What are Acne Scars?

 

Acne scars develop when inflammation damages the deeper layers of the skin during the healing process. As the skin repairs itself, changes in collagen production can result in depressions, uneven texture or raised scars.

Not everyone with acne will develop scarring. Early treatment of active acne can significantly reduce the risk of permanent skin changes.

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Types of Acne Scars

 

Different scar types respond to different treatments. Identifying the type of acne scar is essential when developing an effective treatment plan.

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Signs & Symptoms

 

Acne scarring may present as:

• Depressed scars

• Raised scars

• Uneven skin texture

• Enlarged pores

• Persistent redness

• Dark pigmentation following acne

• Loss of skin smoothness

• Reduced skin confidence

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What Causes Acne Scarring?

 

Acne scarring develops when inflammation damages collagen within the skin.

Factors that increase the risk include:

• Moderate to severe inflammatory acne

• Delayed acne treatment

• Picking or squeezing spots

• Genetics

• Deep cystic acne

• Recurrent acne breakouts

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How is Acne Scarring Diagnosed?

 

A consultation allows your clinician to assess the type, depth and severity of your acne scars.

At CUC Medical & Aesthetics, an OBSERV 520x Skin Analysis may also be performed to assess skin health, pigmentation and overall skin quality before developing a personalised treatment plan.

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Treatment Options

 

Treatment depends on the type and severity of scarring and may include:

• SkinPen Elite® Microneedling

• Sciton ProFractional™ Laser

• Sciton Contour TRL® Laser Resurfacing​

• Combination treatment plans

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Many patients achieve the best results through a combination of treatments designed to stimulate collagen production and remodel scar tissue over time.

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Why SkinPen Elite® is Effective for Acne Scars

 

SkinPen Elite® creates controlled microchannels within the skin, stimulating the body's natural wound healing response and encouraging new collagen and elastin production.

Benefits may include:

• Improved skin texture

• Softer acne scars

• Reduced pore size

• Improved skin quality

• Minimal downtime

• Suitable for many skin types

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Why Sciton ProFractional™ Laser is Effective

 

Sciton ProFractional™ laser creates microscopic treatment channels within the skin while leaving surrounding tissue intact. This stimulates collagen remodelling and accelerates healing.

Treatment may improve:

• Ice pick scars

• Boxcar scars

• Rolling scars

• Skin texture

• Overall skin quality

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A course of treatments is often recommended depending on scar severity.

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Why Sciton Contour TRL® May Be Recommended

 

For more severe acne scarring, Sciton Contour TRL® offers deeper skin resurfacing by removing damaged skin layers and stimulating significant collagen remodelling.

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This treatment may provide substantial improvement in selected patients but requires a longer recovery period compared with other resurfacing treatments.

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Suitability is determined during consultation.

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Why Every Acne Scar Requires a Different Treatment

 

No two acne scars are the same, which is why there is no single treatment that is suitable for every patient. The type, depth and severity of your scarring, along with your skin type and overall skin health, all influence which treatment is likely to provide the best outcome.

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Some patients achieve excellent results with SkinPen Elite® Microneedling, which stimulates natural collagen production and is ideal for improving mild to moderate acne scarring and overall skin texture. Others may benefit from Sciton ProFractional™ Laser, which targets deeper scar tissue and encourages collagen remodelling while minimising downtime.

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For more extensive or severe acne scarring, Sciton Contour TRL® Deep Laser Resurfacing may be recommended. This advanced resurfacing treatment can significantly improve skin texture and scar depth but requires a longer recovery period.

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In many cases, the best results are achieved through a combination approach, incorporating multiple treatments alongside medical-grade skincare to improve skin quality, stimulate collagen production and optimise long-term results.

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At CUC Medical & Aesthetics, every treatment plan is tailored to the individual. Following a comprehensive consultation, our doctor-led team will assess your skin and recommend the most appropriate treatment or combination of treatments to safely achieve the best possible outcome.

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Medical Skincare

 

Medical-grade skincare supports skin healing before and after treatment while helping maintain results.

A personalised skincare programme may include products designed to improve skin renewal, support collagen production and reduce pigmentation associated with previous acne.

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When Should You See a Doctor?

 

Arrange an assessment if:

• Acne scars affect your confidence

• Your skin texture has changed following acne

• You have persistent pigmentation after acne

• Previous treatments have not produced the desired results

• You are unsure which treatment is most appropriate

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Early assessment allows a personalised treatment plan to be developed based on your skin type and scar characteristics.

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Related Treatments

• OBSERV 520x Skin Analysis

• SkinPen Elite® Microneedling

• Sciton ProFractional™ Laser

• Sciton Contour TRL® Laser Resurfacing

• Sciton Nano Peel

• Obagi® Medical Skincare

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Related Skin Conditions

• Acne

• Pigmentation

• Sensitive Skin

• Redness & Broken Capillaries

• Stretch Marks

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Book a Consultation

 

Every acne scar is different. Following a comprehensive consultation, our doctor-led team will assess your skin and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan to improve skin texture, stimulate collagen and achieve long-term skin rejuvenation.